Episode

jenna NNN posts

5/18/07 1:44 pm Well thats a wrap on another season as the summer rolls around and I start obsessing with Big Brother until Survivor China comes. This season got off to a rocky start but it really picked up steam in the middle. I had a great time hanging with the cast at the afterparty Ethan and I threw, it was such a fun and crazy time and everyone was great and looked SO different than they did on the show. So the finale was alittle odvious once Yau left. And I hate to say it but I LOVE Dreamz and what he did. Lets face it Survivor is a GAME, and its not meant to be played nice. Why would you sacrafice yourself and the chance of making more money for someone you barely know. Most Survivors I know and talked too, or at least the hard core players, would of broken a promise to stay in the game. If you wouldnt Survivor might not be the right game for you. I am also so sick of the final jury questions and answers with people talking about how honest they tried to play with morals, blah blah (I am guilty of trying to talk about it to then realized that was not a good plan for me :). Say you kicked butt and you are proud of yourself for getting that far because you should be. I like when people are willing to get down and dirty for not only the million dollars but for the title of SOLE SURVIVOR that only 14 of us have gotten. I hope next seasons starts off with a bang because it looks like the show might be winding down. And I agree with Terry some more tough chicks would be great. I had a great time reading all of your blogs, its been fun. Have a good summer!

brian NNN posts

5/18/07 11:36 am Hey Bobby - I'm up for that trip to Utah anytime. Just name the day and the chapel. Gotta love the Sucksters and TWOPers.

bobby NNN posts

5/17/07 6:51 pm Oh yeah, was so caught up in the Dreamz/YauMan drama that it has been pointed out to me that in all my verbiage, I forgot to give props to Big Daddy Cool Earl Diesel for puttin' the smash down real proppa-like this season. He played a great game and only Yau Man was as good or better. He played the social game the way it should be played when you're a male in your 30s...with confidence and swagger, without hitting too many King's Ransoms in foos faces... People were joking that he was BobDawg 2.0. Nope, Earl is one of a kind, one of the best and most deserving winners there's ever been. Me, I'm just a sexy beast that can chop fish. How's that for some Earl props Stimpy? WooWoooo P. Beefcake.

bobby NNN posts

5/17/07 3:29 pm This is a bit anticlimatic since the finale was sunday and most everything has been said. The whole Dreamz controversy dominated things and overshadowed the last 3rd of the season, which was actually pretty good in terms of drama and strategy (not great strategy, but at least lots of people were active). That’s unfortunate. And the general response to Dreamz was discouraging in its viciousness. It took the wind out of my sails and made me not even want to write about the last episode. But President Beefcake loves hearing himself talk so here you go…a few random words about the finale and reunion. I know it’s long, but relax, you have months to read it … and hey, at least I’m not as bad as Dreamz, right? P.S. most of the funny stuff is at the end... JESSICA, ERICA, LILIANA It was good to see Jessica, Erica and Lilliana talk a little bit. They could have been good female characters, much more enjoyable to watch and worthy of a jury spot than some people who will remain nameless (but whose name rhymes with “Greasy”, and who could easily have been named “Lazy” or “Crazy” or “Loser”). Lilliana (and then Erica) probably would have been the best bet to have a woman that was more than competent in challenges. I thought Michelle, and Stacy did fine in challenges overall, but the other women were absolutely tragic. It would have been nice to see what Liliana and Erica could do athletically. Jessica seemed like she was bright and charismatic, which would have allowed her to do well socially. Plus she’s pretty. These things make Jessica a huge credit to her race, proving beyond a doubt that all white-people are brunette, female, and about 5’6”. Erica on the other hand proved that all black people have big ass afros and are good at finding pineapples. That’s waaaaaaaaay more important than being brunette as far as I’m concerned. Erica is therefore clearly a better person and more worthy of our praise. As far as I’m concerned, she's a huge credit to the black race, and I'm proud to have her in it. Was she a big enough credit to overcome the deficit we’ve suffered because of the evil-doer Dreamz, who has proven that all black people are shifty and shady and greedy, as pointed out so brilliantly in the Finale Thread? No, not hardly. But she’s moving the scales in the right direction. I thought it was too bad that she got booted for being feisty or whatever, because I saw it as passion and competitiveness, not just being a loud-mouth. Those are things that all people—Black people, White people (aka the Pink People), the Yellow people, and even the oft-forgotten, greedy little Red man (who the hell is he to think he can have his own casinos? The Pink people want those too!) – can appreciate. If only Erica knew the cardinal rule of Survivor: you are not allowed to be both assertive and have a big ass afro in this game. You have to pick one. Ahhh, I love the deep life-lessons Survivor teaches us. I’m so glad I have this season on TiVo, in case I ever need to recalibrate my moral compass…I wish I had kids so I could prop them in front of the tube with a glass of milk and some cookies then I could go out and get piss drunk and hunt for MILFs, comforted that my boys are in good hands with Jeff, Dre, Rocky and Yau Man teaching them to become men (I’d only want boys. Girls are icky) THE FINAL JURY Some other observations…I re-watched the episode when Yau was on the jury. If you watch it, he was pissed. He kept it in mostly, but you could almost see his lips curl when he was looking at Dreamz. I have mixed feelings about that. First, I agree with him. He’s sitting on the jury when he could be walking to a million dollars if the final 3 had just been so kind as to basically give up their shot at a million and allow him to compete in the final 3 like he and the public wanted. Like Brian said, people are indignant and angry etc., but it’s because they’re sitting on the jury, not because they think the people in the final 3 are some evil humans. They all wish they had that chance to be devious at a time when it would advance them to the final 3. Oddly enough, Yau man, the guy who was supposedly injured by this wicked demon Dreamz, is the most gracious and understanding person around. He’s the only person that doesn’t think Dre is a bad person and he thinks Dre can “Do anything he wants to” if he gets more disciplined in his thinking. I loved Yau for that line, because even though it sounded patronizing, it was accurate and needed to be said, and he’s probably the only person that could say it without it sounding like an angry, bitter attack. Let’s recall that Yau chose to make the truck gesture after much deliberation on his part (knowing Yau, he started planning that from the time Dre first started yapping about the truck when they read tree-mail). While the gesture was clearly motivated in large part by altruism, it’s also clear that he genuinely believed he was BUYING something with it. When Yau talked to Earl, he didn’t say “Do you think Dre will enjoy the truck, find personal fulfillment and joy, drag his family out of poverty, become a pillar of society and go on to catch Osama Bin Laden and rid the world of terrorism?” No, he said, “Do you think he’ll keep his word?” Yau was interested in what he had PURCHASED with his gesture and whether he was going to get the return on his investment. This wasn’t a no-strings attached gift. This was an investment in junk bonds. High risk, high reward. Why bother to make this distinction? It’s just because as much as I love Da Yau Man (I labeled him a gangsta, titles previously reserved for Bruce and Terry), I hate to see this canonization of him without a full assessment of what he really did and what he’s really like, just as much as I hate to see the disproportionate anger and hate directed at Dreamz, who is bad, but not THAT bad (people sound like they want to turn him into noose-meat). I can be heavy handed, but I like things to be called fairly. I said last episode that the truck gesture was noble and valiant. I also thought it was devious and cunning. It was clearly both, and it was beautiful for both reasons. I think it highlights that Yau Man is a great guy, of high integrity, but that he’s also a game player with his own version of ruthlessness. As great a guy as he is, I don’t think he’s some Lawful Good Ranger out in the forest living a life of barren poverty finding meaning and joy in life by talking to rabbits and squirrels. He was there to play for the money. I think that when he peeked in Sylvia’s bag and made the False Idol (thereby violating one of the 10 commandments, which Boo must have missed) it showed that this dude was here to play the game hard and to do whatever he could to do to win—within HIS PARTICULAR ethical limits. Sneaking a peek? Good. Lying. Bad, very bad. I believe honor and integrity are important to him and I believe he would have kept his word to Earl. I don’t think he’d tell bold-face lies to people for advantage if he could help it, but I don’t think he’s absolutely above lying. I just don’t buy this one-dimensional ‘saint’ thing. That’s something I think the public and the editors has created. He’s plenty devious and tricky, and he’s an opportunitst (“Earl, I may need to borrow your idol.”). We just seem to want to forget that about him, which I don’t understand because that’s why we love guys like him in this game. Yau was there to play for the money just like everyone else. Nothing wrong with that, so I don’t know why people are trying to make it sound like he’s the last sentry standing between us and all that is bad in the world… ORAL CONTRACTS By the way, all these people talking about ‘oral contracts’ are more off-base than they were when they were twitching with anger in front of their computers banging out stuff like “Al Sharpton is violating Don Imus’ 1st Amendment rights!!!”. Jeff said at least 19 times “THIS IS UNENFORCEABLE.” In lay-person's terms, this means the following: THIS IS UNENFORCEABLE. That’s what we lawyers call ‘actual notice.’ Yau was on notice that there was no contract. At best, that was a promise. Unlike a contract, a promise can be broken without repercussions. The only cost to the person breaking a promise is the hit to your reputation and credibility. Is that worth a $60K truck plus whatever else you get by moving up one spot in the standings? Not to me. Not by a long shot. But was it to Dreamz? Apparently. WHEN DID DREAMZ BECOME A BAD GUY? The most important time in determining how bad a guy Dreamz isn’t when the promise was made at the challenge, but afterwards when he had had time to reflect. At that time he must have realized 2 things— "wow, by accepting this, I can’t possibly win. I begged for a handout and I was given the very thing I begged for. Like a homeless dude on the street, once someone gives you the change you begged for, they don’t owe you any consideration after that, and your duty is to stop bothering them and to never ask for anything again. You’re supposed to be a good, docile, nice little homeless dude that says “thank you, suh!” then slinks off. You’re not supposed to keep playing the game after you get a handout. Now I’m basically in debt to Yau Man and handcuffed in the eyes of everyone else as they will require that I keep my word and will punish me if I don’t. On the other hand, Yau didn’t do that just out of generosity. He’s trying to take me out of the game and by taking the truck, I’ve given him superior advantage, which is what he was seeking. I made a mistake by taking it, but it would be another mistake to give up immunity." It’s during this deliberative phase that I think Dre’s integrity etc. came into play, not when he accepted the truck. If someone pushes $60K in cash in front of you, it would be tough to resist. It was a quick decision, it's not like anyone expected it or planned for it (other than Yau). People can get all high and mighty if they want, but if you’ve ever watched “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” or that other show where they open up brief-cases, you’ve been confronted with the truth about human nature—and greed is a big part of it for all of us. For some people, The Price is Right, and they will stop at $50,000 or whatever, unwilling to risk that bird in the hand for the 2 in the bush. Others will push it, willing to walk away with nothing for the chance at the million. To me, they’re both valid choices and they depend on your situation in life. If you’re independently wealthy, why not take a shot at the million? If $50K would really make an impact on you and your family, who am I to criticize you for taking the money and running? Who am I do declare that you should risk it? I’ll tell you who I am. I’m a fan with no real vested interest in the outcome, or in your life and well-being. I just want to be entertained. And just like we at home always cheer for the people to “GO FOR IT!!!” and call people cowards when they back down and take the guaranteed money, people wanted Dre to “Press His Luck!” (ok, enough with the game-show references) by not taking the $60K truck and hoping he wins the idol (odds against that) and that he then makes it to the final 3 and wins a vote against Obi Earl and quiet Cass when the jury is full of foos he buried (highly unlikely). Hey, it’s not our money or our tough choice and it’s more entertaining and fulfilling for US to watch you gamble with your choice—even though many of us, if handed $60K in cash would have a hard time putting it back on the table. There’s other stuff at play obviously. For instance, some amount of money was already guaranteed from being this far in the game, so walking away from the $60K wouldn’t have left him with nothing. The $60K was just extra. And Dreamz’ “press it” situation involved a failure to keep a promise and became an issue of integrity, so it’s not completely analogous. But I think it’s instructive in that like the gameshow contestants that we want to make the ‘noble’ decision and go for the big score and how we think they’re chumps for not taking the shot at it (showing how our own values can be projected onto others without regard to their own well-being) we wanted Dreamz to do something that’s not nearly as clean-cut as we’re making it out to be. Why? Because it would have made us feel better if he did. If you polled all the fans, I suspect that upwards of 80 or 90% would say they never never ever would have done what Dreamz did. 100% would probably say that the loss of their reputation isn’t worth $60K. I suspect the truth is somewhat less than that-- especially for people trying to make ends meet in a household with a broken down truck in the driveway and an income less than say, $60K. If someone like that was in the game and said, “hey I had to take that money Jeff. My family needs that and I couldn’t risk it. Sorry if you look down on me, but my family can really use this extra $60K," I think some people would be disappointed in that guy, but not angry and hateful. They’d disagree but they’d understand. Dreamz tried to make it sound like it was the morally right thing to do and it wasn't. That's what pisses people off. That and the fact that he's black of course (kidding, jeeeez. A little Al Sharpton humor never hurt nobody...) In the real world, at some point, the moral and the financial start to blend and it stops being an ethical decision. It’s an easy call when you’re used to going downstairs to the fridge and having all the “Yoo-Hoo” you want. But it’s gotta be different when you go downstairs and not only is there no “Yoo Hoo” in the fridge, but there’s no fridge. And downstairs is a loading dock. I think Dre made a business decision-- a ‘gotta get mine while I can’ decision and he simply wasn’t equipped to explain it as such. He tried to JUSTIFY it, when he should have been trying to EXCUSE it by saying something like: “Look, I know it was wrong. But I’ve never had anything ever. I’m basically a good dude. I got caught up in the moment and took the truck. Once I had it, realistically, I realized I had to keep it. That’s $60K. I actually lived on the street and ate out of trashcans. I'm out here in large part for the money, not so much the fame and adventure. I’m not fortunate enough to have the luxury of making purely moral and ethical decisions divorced from pragmatic concerns. It would be great to have everyone pat me on the back and say I’m a great guy for giving up the immunity idol, but that pat on the back isn’t going to drive me anywhere or put food on my family’s table (which the money would do if I sold the truck). These people weren’t my friends before and the truth is, some of them haven’t treated me like a friend since I've been here. They've been mean to me (Rocky, Lisi, Stacy) and they lied to me and repeatedly tried to get rid of me (the Horsemen, Yau). In fact, the main reason Yau Man gave me the truck was that he was trying to get rid of me, and it happened to make him look noble in the process. And the fans don’t really care about me one way or the other. They want me to be ‘noble’ but how many of them would really help me out if I hadn’t been on this game? I have to do what’s best for me and my family financially and if people hate me for it, too bad. They keep claiming to be strong Christians and if that’s the case, where’s their forgiveness? At least they could stop attacking me and calling me an evil demon. I did the best I could, I was out for myself, and I took an advantage when I saw it. Yau Man seems to understand that. He’s not happy, but he doesn’t hate me. Why should anyone else.” Can’t you just picture Dre saying that? I said last week that he’s the guy that buys up Baltic and Mediterranean and those other crappy properties then when he hits the Greens and Dark Blues and he’s out of money and can’t get them. He lives for the moment, trying to get an advantage for himself at that exact instant. He does that in his game play and in the things he says. He’s basically incapable of politics. Now if you watch Yau at TC, you can tell he was salty. But he was savvy enough to know that he couldn’t unload on Dre at TC. If he tried to do that, he’d look as dumb as Alex and Lisi and Mookie, trying to be all angry and dramatic to show up the final 3, but looking petty and retarded in the process. Underneath, I think there was some actual anger in Yau, and people haven’t acknowledged that it’s even possible for Yau Man to have anger, or to be cunning or devious. My point is that none of these people are cardboard cut-outs…Dreamz isn’t totally evil and Yau Man isn’t totally good (though I think he’s as close as we’ve seen to a totally good person in awhile). But Yau’s questioning highlighted the advantage he, and to a lesser extent, all the other players other than Rocky and Lisi had over Dre. Sophistication. Dre’s problem wasn’t that he’s dumb or evil, it’s that he’s unsophisticated. When you’ve been to college, or played team sports, or worked in an office, or have done anything where you have to tuck away the instinctual side and ‘play well with others’ you have a better ability to play for the future, not the moment (along the lines of Jonathan’s comments). That’s why I cringed when I saw him trying to navigate this obstacle and then talk his way out of it. He wasn't equipped to do it. I think there’s a way that he could have pulled it off and not be so hated at the end. He should have made a big show of insisting that Yau take the truck back (knowing that he wouldn’t take it back anyway, lest HE look materialistic and greedy and give away the moral high ground) or gone over the top as a character and said “Hey man, it’s just a game! I beat him and all those other foos. This isn't an issue of integrity, we're all lying scum, that's Survivor. I lied the WHOLE time, I broke EVERY promise I ever made, I broke EVERY confidence immediately. Yau was foolish to trust me and anyone that says he was sucker-punched is just playing favorites. Like I’m really going to be dumb enough to give up immunity. I didn't really expect to get it, so I took the truck, but now that I have it, like I'm really going to give it up? Who would do that (other than Colby and Ian, honorable losers)? Everyone knew that I’m not to be trusted and time and time again, they fell for it. Anyone that denies this is being intellectually dishonest." It was his attempt to convince us all that it was ok to do what he did that angers us I think. People are willing to forgive if you apologize and ask for forgiveness (especially if you can make $200 million dollar movies like Mel Gibson) but when you try to talk your way out of it (you DID have sex with that woman, Monica Lewinsky, just admit it foo’), it makes people angry, so angry that it’s often disproportionate to the actual offense. CROSS-EXAMINATION 101 Perry Mason must be rolling over in his grave… This had to be some of the worst cross-examinations I’ve ever seen. ALEX: So Dreamz, what do you have to say for yourself? Dreamz: Well, Alex I… ALEX: Shut Up! I’m talking now! What do you have to say for yourself? Dreamz: I… ALEX: Shut up! I’m asking the questions! It’s my turn to talk and my hair gel is melting so shut up! DREAMZ: Ok, but I don’t know what you want me to say. ALEX: That’s right! You better remember that! You don’t know what I want you to say. That’s the whole point of being a ninja! I rest my case! Now on to you Earl—if that is your real name. EARL: What can I do for you Alex? ALEX: Don’t ask what you can do for me, ask what you can do for your country, because that’s what this is all about! EARL: I’m sorry, I don’t understand… ALEX: That’s right! You don’t understand! You don’t understand, you don’t overstand, you don’t play in a band, and you suck at Pac-Man. I rest my case with him too! DREAMZ: [jokingly] Hey Alex, if it don’t fit, you must acquit! ALEX: What?!?!? Do you think this is some kind of game, Dreamz?!?!? DREAMZ: Yes. ALEX: I have news for you buddy. This isn’t a game. This is real life. Very serious business here. Didn’t you hear what Maximus said in Gladiator: “What we do in life echoes in eternity”? DREAMZ: I don’t have a dvd player. Can you give me one with your 7th place winnings? If not, don't worry about it, I can afford it now. ALEX: You people… From now on, leave the closing arguments to the Stanford guys. We destroy foos. Mookie’s cross-exam was pretty weak too. MOOKIE: Dreamz, would you say that you betrayed me and your fellow Horsemen? DREAMZ: Yes. MOOKIE: Aha! I got him guys!... Wait, you admit it…? DREAMZ: Yes. MOOKIE: Well, don’t you feel evil and bad and don’t you want to cry on TV and apologize to all of your fellow Horsemen who never did anything to you except cut you out of the information loop when we found the idol, which was the first test of our promise to be loyal to each other? DREAMZ: No. MOOKIE: Yeah, well…oh yeah!?!?! I’m rubber and you’re glue! DREAMZ: Ok, I can live that. MOOKIE: Yeah, yeah, take that! Now what?!?!? DREAMZ: Look Mookie, this is Survivor… MOOKIE: [interrupts] That’s right! Now let’s look at that word closely! There’s no ‘liar’ in Survivor! DREAMZ: You’re grasping for straws . I lied, I cheated, I committed a deceit, I tricked you, I played on your loyalty, I was dishonorable. I’ve done that the whole game. You guys kept saying you couldn’t trust me, but you kept trusting me. And now I’m sitting over here and you’re sitting over there and you’re pissed off about it. How much do you get for 8th? MOOKIE: Now is not the time to start lying! I repeat, now is not the time to start lying! I rest my case too! The only cross-examination that was worse than those was that of Lisi Linares, Esq. Rule #1 in cross exams: don’t ask a question to which you don’t already know the answer. LISI: DREAMZ!!! I have a question for you buddy! How many zeroes in a million? DREAMZ: 6. LISI: [Smirks. Confers with co-counsel] MOOKIE: I think that’s right. ALEX: I think so too. BOO: That’s definitely right. I’ve been counting to a million since episode 5. LISI: [whispers] That’s right? You’re sure it’s not 5? Dang. [stops whispering] Well, I guess I don’t have anything else to say to you, dummy! CASSANDRA!!! CASS: Yes. LISI: Don’t you ‘yes’ me little missy! I have a question for you…given that you’re such a quitter and were such luggage in challenges, why should I give you the million? CASS: I don’t know…maybe because birds of a feather flock together? LISI: [confers with co-counsel] Is that true? Do birds of a feather flock together? ALEX: Usually. MOOKIE: Yeah, I think she got you there Lisi. You attacking her for being a quitter and useless in challenges would be like the pot calling the kettle black. LISI: Yeah, well I don’t believe in talking pots. So now, for my grand finale, let me demonstrate my supreme retardation by singing my eenie-meenie miney moe song… [sings brilliantly] For those wondering what the big hub-bub was about Lisi's singing this particular song to an all black final 3 here's some background… from Wikipedia...(YOU CAN AND PROBABLY SHOULD SKIP THE NEXT COUPLE OF PARAGRAPHS IF YOU GET OFFENDED EASILY--OR ARE RACIST). “A controversial alternative version of this poem substitutes the word nigger for the word tiger, which in some eyes has tainted the entire rhyme. Since there is a lack of tiger versions in print prior to the 1950s, some believe that the modern version is a variation of the "nigger" version. At least two early versions support this: From Rudyard Kipling's "A Counting-Out Song", from "From "Land and Sea Tales for Scouts and Guides," published in 1923: Eenee, Meenee, Mainee, Mo! Catch a nigger by the toe! If he hollers let him go! Eenee, Meenee. Mainee, Mo! You-are-It! The chorus from Bert Fitzgibbon's 1906 song "Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo", copyrighted by F.B. Haviland: Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo, Catch a nigger by the toe, if he won't work then let him go, Skidum, skidee, skidoo; But when you get money, your little bride will surely find out where you hide, So There's the door and when I count four, then out goes you. Now do I think Lisi meant it this way? No. That would suggest that she's read Kipling’s poem or knows about Kipling’s poem or knows what a poem is or knows anything at all. Based on the empirical evidence currently before the court, I find that to be highly unlikely… My best guess would be that she learned the rhyme from playing hide-and-seek, like I did. However that may be unlikely too, since I can’t imagine her accomplishing the constituent parts of the game. First, I can't picture her running. Second, I can’t picture her hiding. Third, I can’t imagine anyone looking for her after she’s voluntarily gone away (unless she has the beer with her). So I don’t know how she learned the rhyme but no, I don’t think she meant it maliciously. But it's stuff like this that irks people of conscience because it's extremely offensive to some people but people get away with it, just like they get away with referring to people of certain races in offensive ways (like calling white people, the "Pinkies"). It's like their own ignorance is a Cloak of Protection from Civility +5. Then people get angry at the people on the receiving end of the insult for complaining about it. “How dare you be offended that she said that formerly racist rhyme to 3 black people! You must be a racist! All you blacks sticking together in the final 3! That never happened before when Survivor was cast like an episode of ‘Friends’”… To this, President Beefcake says: “Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…” Ok, that’s it. A super long ass blog to cap off a season of longwindedness from me. I had fun reading and writing and following along in the message boards (until this week) and I appreciate all the private messages people have sent me here and on myspace. I’m always down to talk survivor (or about my own mightiness) so hit me up if so inclined. Here's a big “Woo WOoooooooooooooo” and a pull from my flask to the other bloggers, to Sucks, to Inside Pulse, and to TV Without Pity. By the way, I hereby accept all the marriage proposals—meet me in Vegas. What happens there…well, you know the rest. Brian, you got at least one proposal over there too. I’m willing to share so maybe we should do that wedding in Utah. I don’t take sloppy seconds though… WoOWOoooooo BobDawgsta

terry NNN posts

5/16/07 2:55 pm Wow !! Stacey said on "Live", that there would be fireworks at Tribal. It was all that and more ! And here I though the previous TC was the climax. I knew Earl would win, but the jury did not disappoint. I agree wholeheartedly agree with both Jonathan and BobDawg on their blogs. As much I don't like what Dreamz did, in the long run, it's the kind of "me first" attitude that runs deep in society today." Da Man" realized it later and has to live with the fact that he trusted Dreamz to give him the Immunity necklace. Yikes, there's a whole lot of 20 - 20 hindsight going on there. At least Dreamz should have given the truck back !! I didn't hear any talk from anyone about the possibility of splitting the vote if Dreamz didn't give up the necklace. Did he have them all fooled? Someone should have made a point of asking Dreamz about it and making him make the choice before TC. I guess it came down to, " Don't ask a question you don't want to hear the answer to." Da Man should have been all over that. At least have Dreamz cast his vote for one of the others. Can you say fire challange ? Da Man is a true Survivor and a class act all the way. His pointed questions at the final TC were right on. I wished I had asked Daniel the same question. Earl did not hesitate to answer either. He knew the story. As far as Da Man's composure having just gotten hosed the night before, it comes down to maturity, professionalism, and foresight. This is a man who has every right to be pissed and has the stage to take his best shot. But, he's been around enough to realize that he's got to go back to his family, job and real life. Making an ass out of himself would not only be out of character for him but could ruin his image, and he knows it. Having self restraint is difficult, and the producers are quite happy the rest of the jury did not practice it. It makes good TV. Earl. Congratulations! I can tell you from first hand knowledge that being sent to Exile that many times, not only takes a physical and mental toll, it keeps you out of the communication loop. Also, you don't get a look at tree mail and a possible clue as to what the IC is going to entail. Earl got over all of that and kept in the know and was a constant threat in most of the challanges. Nine votes ! He was definitely doing something right. One last point. Mookie said," tonight is not the time to start lying." I believe the jury was impressed by Earls quick and honest response to Da Man's question. I MISS STEPHANIE!! I'll say it again ! I MISS STEPHANIE!!! Are we going to get some women that can compete in the challenges ? Two shows in a row. Hope China will bring a change. Another season has ended. What will we watch? It's like the end of NCAA basketball, or the World Series, or the Super Bowl. It's a bummer!! Thank God I still have Little League Baseball and Soccer. Oh yeah, Vintage Baseball. Check out, SimsburyTaverneers.com . Once again it's been an honor blogging with the former Survivors and to get their first hand insight to a game we all love. Hope to see ya'll next season. Your Six is clear ! TD

bruce NNN posts

5/16/07 12:12 am There is an ancient Japanese proverb that states, “When a tiger dies and leaves the earth, he leaves his stripes, but when a man dies and leaves the earth, he leaves his character.” When I meet someone, it is not his/her title, their wealth, or where they came from that impresses me. It is where they are going in their life with their values, goals, and character. I was sad and angry with the Survivor Finale because, like many other viewers, I had started to like Dreamz. I had to wait a couple of days to write a blog because I was shocked and disgusted at Dreamz’s decision. As you know, Yau-Man was my favorite, but I enjoyed all the other Survivors and hope to meet all of them in the future. It would be difficult for me to meet Dreamz. First of all congratulations to Earl for an outstanding and wonderful game that he played. I forgot and did not even notice that the Final 3 were black because I get into the show for what the contestants are from the inside and the quality of their character. The final vote reflects the respect that you deserve from the Fiji Jury. Boo became another one of my favorites and kept everything off-balanced. Anytime, someone can beat the Yau-Man at a challenge and win the Immunity necklace is a stud. He rose to the top in the last 3 weeks bringing out his true talents, especially at the Final Tribal Council. A shot of Jack with you anytime Boo. More power to Cassandra (who could not swim, wandered aimlessly in the maze challenge and was the worst athlete) for adapting to the tribes and individuals. There will always be a Cassandra or Cirie in every season who will be in the final 6, which makes it a better show. A shot of Jack with Cirie and Cassandra any time. It was good to have Rocky and Lisi for making the show more interesting with their loud personality, but I wanted to head-butt Rocky and Lisi every week every time they opened their mouth. Win or Lose, they are not afraid to tell everyone just how they feel. A shot of Jack with them any time. I think they got more air time over some of the other Survivors who the show did not develop and the viewers would have enjoyed to get to know them better. WOW. Did all the ladies look gorgeous at the Finale. WOW. I had to say it again. A double Jack straight up with all of them any time. The scene at my house was a lot of cheering and encouragement for Dreamz to hang on and win the Immunity Necklace for the Yau-Man. But when he hesitated and kept the necklace instead of saying to Yau-Man, “I promised you this“, I knew it was going to be bad. I’m sure this was the type of decision Dreamz makes all his life. Everyone gets bad breaks or lightning bolts thrown at them, but how you bounce back with Honor, Spirit, and Integrity is how you elevate yourself in life. Even if you win a million dollars, if you are an assh**e, you are just an assh**e with a million dollars. A million dollars will not make you a better person, but only magnify what you are. As a strong Christian, (being a Christian is not a game) I was so happy when dreamz said, “I promise to God. I want my son to see me as a man of my word.” That’s a moment that I will always remember Dreamz because he really said it from the heart and emotion. And the moment I will remember is when he said, “I’m keeping the Immunity Idol.” That’s what the world will remember. You will never be able to change that moment. That’s again Boo for challenging him on his beliefs at the Tribal Council. He wasn’t playing when he got the truck, you could see it in his eyes and heart. For that one decision to give the Immunity necklace as a MAN of his word, Dreamz and Yau-Man could have been the most demanded reality personality to make appearances. If Yau-Man gets lonely, he can always invite me to tag along. I have a big heart. Although, Survivor is a reality game, you become part of the viewer’s life. Whether you like it or not, you become a hero, villain, a role-model, or someone who slips into obscurity like a candle in the wind after their season is over. To Yau-Man; Thanks for setting the standards of Survivor to a new level. The Immunity Necklace should be called the Yau-Man necklace. A shot of Jack or Sake with you any time. You should give up ping-pong and write a book on, “How To Win at Survivor.“ I think that the Pirate Master will be a flop without some older people (there were a lot of older real pirates), me and the Yau-Man. I really think that all the older Survivors can kick butt. Also, I have some real pirate wenches on myspace. To Scout, Amy, Brian, BobDawg and Johnathan, it has been a wonderful season and an honor to share my blogs with you. Thanks for your humor and insights. A shot of Jack with you guys any time. To all the viewers, bloggers, website fans and readers, Merci Beaucoup mille fois and a shot of Jack with all of you. See you at the Top. Bruce Kanegai

jonathan NNN posts

5/15/07 4:23 pm As a wall-eyed genius once wrote in his play about folks trapped together with No Exit; ‘Hell is other people’. Yau man now knows it’s true. But unlike most people who go to hell, he’s being canonized into well-deserved tele-sainthood. He comes out smelling like a rose. And Earl deserved the win. Lisi deserves her new chin. Alex deserves scorn and derision, and Rocky probably deserves all the lady-love he is, no doubt, now knowing. I hate to say it but he looked great at the reunion. Cassandra played a brilliant, un-winnable duck and cover game. Not my style, but it worked. Ask Becky when you see her. And then there’s Dreamz. I thought he’d give it up. I did. My Stacy said no way; that all season long they’ve been cutting him as a lunatic and Yau Man as a ‘threat’. She saw it coming. I love her for it, but hate that it happened. In hindsight, of course, you say, a wild card is not to be trusted. You bring a wild card into the game and all bets are off. Literally. Yau didn’t think Dreamz was a wild card though. He thought he was a person like him. Because it’s hard to imagine people NOT being like you. And I realize, amazingly, the have and have-not thing; the ‘class’ issue that the season started with really did impact the game. Not tribally-- not who had tea cups and sofas. (And obviously not racially, with three African Americans in the final three.) But in that, the one actual have-not in the game, Dreamz, played with such an ingrained, street-hardened ‘survivor’s’ mentality that it truly blindsided all of us who were taught that one’s ‘word’ means something. Who were taught that honor and honesty somehow count for more than money or a last best chance. I think knowing where our next meal is coming from and where our next night of bed-rest will take place, gives us the time and the security to project ourselves into the future. Where we can see how something immediately gratifying might have long term ramifications. I see that maybe we take for granted the socialization and the education that teaches how a little self-sacrifice can have a tremendous long term benefit. That teaches good will, integrity and a guilt-free conscience are worth A LOT -- to the folks you are dealing with and to one’s self. Most of us didn’t grow up on the streets. Maybe if we had -- with few long term opportunities, learning to seize the few chances right before our eyes, we might have done what Dreamz did too. He probably earned 20,000 dollars more than Yau in the game. And he got the truck. That ain’t chicken feed. We might have taken the immediate gains too, unaware of (or willing to endure) the hatred and nausea that would follow us. But the problem for me is, it makes me kind of tired and sad and angry, really. I think his kind of thinking is why, in the real world, so many people find themselves in jail or on the streets. Because of their own short-sightedness. And by extension, the shortsightedness of the system that cannot help them see a long-term future of hope and health. I don’t know how to fix that system. I don’t know anything except personal responsibility. Dreamz was lucky/smart/special enough to get on Survivor – he’s now rich and (in)famous. Most folks from his former situation don’t get that break. He played it as best he could, I guess, but I resent his way of thinking. Or rather, the way of thinking, he is emblematic of. And even if I can understand it objectively, (if I do) I don’t like it. Honestly, it scares me. Not Dreamz, of course, but what his actions say to me. I don’t want to be a duck and cover survivor, but today, suddenly, I feel like even here off the island, where we’re all just trying to get along, there are folks who just don’t think the way I do, and will see me harmed for their own short term benefit without worry of the impact on their own lives. Or on mine. Hyperbole or no, it’s true. The haves and the have-nots. The fundamentalists. The wild cards. The Dick Cheneys. The folks who toss people onto the street. The people who toss away their futures for a thrill or a buck. The Others. I want to interact with them. I want to understand them. But I can’t get inside their skulls. It makes me want to pull the covers over my head, or put a gate up in front of my un-gated house. Hell as other people. Yes, all this from a f’ing game show. A show we love because it IS reality. The season’s over. And it was a bummer in the end. But this blog, friends, I’ve loved it. So until next time, I wish you all peace, love and understanding. J

bobby NNN posts

5/15/07 12:59 am I promised myself never to blog angry. Drunk, maybe. Well, probably...Well, yes. But angry? No. So I'm going to do my actual blog later. But I made the mistake of checking out the Finale Thread and I have to say that this episode pulled back the curtain and revealed that there's some weak minded, disingenuous, mean-spirited cowards have apparently been lurking in the message boards and have now erupted with 1 or 2 posts from a new profile with no identifying info so they can spew venom with impunity and without accountability... Was what Dre did bad? Yes. Did it make me cringe? Yes. Was it bad enough to justify 300 message board pages that reads like it was cut and pasted out of Trent Lott’s diary? No. Let me break it down for you: Dreamz is not THAT important. Survivor is not THAT important. And all these people that are angry at the 'lessons' Dre is teaching kids should re-read some of their posts and ask whether we want our kids learning that cowardly, racist duncery. I've done a good job (if I do say so myself) of not taking other bloggers to task for saying stuff like "the yellow people" and "Yau-Man is child-like" but since we're quoting fans now to help bash a player in the game, here's a couple of gems from the Finale Thread... **"Young Black America has no future if Dreamz-like people are their role model!... The only thing he taught me: there isn’t much honor, honesty, faith or self respect left in Black community as long as a "difficult life" is an acceptable excuse for becoming scum!" BobDawg sez: I had no idea the entire black community was counting on Dreamz to save us. Now I know what that ‘lost’ feeling I’ve been having is, because now I’m found. Too bad Dreamz dropped the ball. It’s all over for us now. Thanks a lot, ‘brother’… Only a hypocrite would bash this guy’s intelligence and integrity and yell and scream that he’s some vile, villainous creature, then turn around and claim to have ‘learned lessons from him’ about the black community or anything else. If he’s so dumb and evil, shouldn’t you be DISREGARDING his lessons, not taking them to heart? The answer is you’re not taking lessons. You’re spewing your own home-grown venom. Own it. Or just slither back to the shadows on your belly. and **"Dreamz is unethical, and a terrible role model for every young viewer that watched Survivor Fiji." BobDawg Sez: Uh, it’s not Sesame Street, it's Survivor. When did players become role models? What dumb ass parent lets his/her kid watch Survivor to learn anything at all about life? "See Johnnie, that's how you sneak a peak in someone's bag... Oh, and that’s how you lie to a person’s face." Any clown that claims to turn on Survivor looking for role models and on that basis is dissing Dreamz for not being one is either being disingenuous or a worse parent than Michael Jackson... And my favorite… ** “I have nothing at all against the asians. I think they are extremely intelligent people and generally are friendly and good citizens. Let me also say, I am the first to notice a wonderful black person. May I remind you all I said I liked Earl (although he should've voted Cassandra in the end but I'm not at all suprised they all stick together LOL), and some of the others on this season, whose names aren't coming to me at the time. I also have a couple black friends that I hold in the highest regard. Do I still believe they are the exception?? Absolutely! But they are also people that don't speak ebonics, don't celebrate a made up holiday such as Kwanza, don't wear their pants down below their butt and sideways hat and repeatedly talk extremely loud in public with foul language, don't give extremely rude attitude along with dirty looks to people they don't even know, etc etc etc. The list could go on and on. I'm sure you get my point. And I'm also sure if you were honest with yourself you would maybe admit a lot of those thing, if not all, bother you too and are completely unnecessary for the human race. Back to Dreamz though.. that was not the usual lie on Survivor as many would agree with. This was a $60,000 gift given in exchange for a man's word and a handshake and swearing to God on national television.” BobDawg Sez: Wow. I have to admit, this one actually made me laugh. “That’s not the usual lie people would agree with”???? Pray tell, which lies are the ones we agree with? Where’s the morality compass pointing on that one? And in a game full of lies that are apparently ok, Dre’s was so far and away worse that it deserves 300 thread pages and all this vicious name calling? And I had no idea people actually still say out loud stuff like “the Asians are smart” and “the blacks are lazy” and “I’m not racist. I have black friends.” That’s so… 90s. It sounds like something from one of those ‘lesson’ episodes on Diff’rent Strokes... And for the record, there is nothing child-like about Yau Man. The dude is 50 something and he has a degree from MIT. He is the director of Info Systems at Cal Berkeley. The DIRECTOR. From the neck up Yau Man is one of the most powerful players the game has ever seen. He’s one of the most active thinkers and most cognizant of his surroundings of anyone that’s played. He doesn’t deserve to be patronized as being ‘noble’ and ‘child-like’. And make no mistake: Yau made the truck offer not out of goodwill but for GAME ADVANTAGE. He was trying to manipulate Dreamz for personal game advantage—which is what you’re supposed to do. He said himself that you can’t take promises seriously in this game. It was a calculated risk and he got burned. He offered Dre the truck in exchange for immunity. That was a declaration of war and it was apparent to Dre. When is the last time someone voluntarily gave up immunity anyway?!?!? If Dre had done that, I can only imagine the “Dre is dumb and therefore all black people are dumb, except the 3 good blacks that I work with” threads that would be popping up all over the place. Nothing Dre has done suggests that he’d keep his word, so who’s fault is it that he didn’t do it here? If dog bites you once, shame on dog. If dog bites you twice, shame on you… Yes, it was despicable that Dreamz did what he did but let’s not canonize Yau just yet, they’re 2 separate issues. Yau was making a game move, just like when he made a fake idol. This happened to make him look noble and generous (which I believe he is) while the fake idol thing makes him look devious and cunning (which I believe he is). And Dre lying for personal advantage was bad, real bad. But as ‘noble’ as Colby and Ian’s symbolic gestures were, they were also dumb. A bunch of people targetted Dre at different times in the game, and all of them were sitting in the jury, many because he personally buried them there. Give the guy a little credit for the previous 14 episodes and try not to bury him for one terrible decision...

brian NNN posts

5/14/07 10:52 pm Ouch, Scout, tell that fan that no, that’s not an okay wish, because it’s vindictive, and that’s just mean-spirited and unhealthy! So I just finished re-watching the final Tribal Council, and I also just watched the Reunion Show for the first time. I have to say, seeing Dreamz equivocate and not have a damn clue what he’s talking about just reconfirms my feeling that criticizing him for all of this is like yelling at a 5-year-old for not playing by the rules in chess. It’s like, why bother? You can’t rationalize with him, and you’ll just infuriate yourself into a great big ball of frustration. If you sit down with a kid for an intense game of chess and then freak the hell out when he tries to move his knight forward five spaces, you’re the idiot, not the kid. And frankly, that analogy isn’t even all that apt anyway, because Dreamz didn’t break any rules of the game. All this talk about his integrity being shattered for life is just way too much. I mean, I am the world’s most diligent rule-follower, and my moral code is immensely important to me and dictates every action I make. But when you voluntarily enter into an inherently greedy game with not only an explicitly defined set of rules that does not ban lying or breaking promises, but also a pretty clearly set precedent for deceit, how do you justify the moral outrage when you’re lied to, duped, or swindled? It’s up to you how to play Survivor; I think lying for the sake of lying is stupid and complicates an already complicated game. But if it comes up, and you get beaten because of it? Be an adult, accept the consequences, and suck it up. So should Dreamz have at least given the truck back to save face? Yeah, probably, but Yau Man flat out told him to keep it and to enjoy it. Yau Man’s not pissed off, so why should anyone else be? Now granted, Dreamz is not a kid, and he obviously knows the difference between right and wrong, between real life and the game, but you can’t possibly convince me that he’s on the same level as Cassandra, Earl, or Yau Man. Clearly, Dreamz was in way over his head from Day 1, and his erratic, impulsive, childlike nature should have been evident to anyone who wanted to align or bargain with him. It’s like, when you play Russian roulette, don’t get mad at the gun. So not only do I feel that it’s immature, myopic, and kind of whiny to complain about being lied to on Survivor in general, but in this particular instance, I feel that when you make a deal with someone with a track record of flightiness and self-serving behavior, don’t get indignant when he acts flighty and self-serving. I think that Yau Man exemplified this pretty well, and that’s why I have tremendous respect for him. I think all this outrage should be redirected toward Lisi and Alex, two adults who should certainly have known better than to act so petulant and rude. I truly hope they were embarrassed by how poorly they treated Dreamz and Cassandra, in particular. To me, what they did was far worse than what Dreamz did because, for them, the game was over; they had nothing left to gain. They acted out of malice, vindictiveness, and a desire to see someone else squirm and flounder, and that is a far greater (and more pathetic) crime than breaking your word in a silly, greedy game. I am sure there was more to Alex’s line of questioning than we saw (this was confirmed at the afterparty, in fact), so I realize at least part of it has to be in the editing, but the whole “Should I translate to Spanish?” “Riddle me this!” and “STOP TALKING! STOP TALKING!” was all him. While we’re at it, “Riddle me this?” Who says that? What are you, a Batman villain? Shut up. So that’s all my commentary for the show. I’m sorry for Earl that the whole “controversial decision” overshadowed his truly impressive win. This is the first unanimous victory on the American version of Survivor, and it was well-earned. Earl was great, and I’m happy for him. As for the rest of the cast, I have to say, they’re a great group of people off the island. Every one of them (yes, even Lisi and Alex, and, oddly enough, especially Rocky) was affable, excited, and fun. Michelle and Edgardo are two of the coolest Survivors I’ve ever met, and I have nothing but good things to say about them both. Anthony is a huge Survivor fan like myself, so it was a blast getting to hang out and take it all in with him. Cassandra is a beautiful, sweet woman and it was great getting to meet her. Lovely Rita and Papa Smurf Gary brought their beautiful families everywhere with them, which was great to see. Boo is EXACTLY like my friend Jamie Newton from Guatemala: same accent, same humor, same personality. He was awesome. I didn’t get a chance to talk to Mookie, Sylvia, or Stacy very much, but they all looked great and happy to be there. The whole afterparty just reminds me that you can say all you want about the contestants when they’re characters on your TV, but until you meet them in person, you don’t really know what they’re really like. Fortunately, this group is a good one! Congrats to everyone involved, and I look forward to coming back to blog for China.

scout NNN posts

5/14/07 7:35 pm This just in from another fan reading our blogs. I hope Dreamz is reading this stuff! "I've been watching Survivor since Season 1 and I have never ever left feeling so bad and disgusted by another's actions. It almost made me wanna not watch anymore. I hope some good can come out of it and Yauman gets blessed beyond his wildest dreams and I hope that Dreamz will learn a valuable lesson out of this. Is it okay to wish that he learns it the hard way?"

scout NNN posts

5/14/07 6:02 pm Some how this got deleted from my blog. It should read: “LOVE MANY. TRUST FEW (FEWER NOW!). DO WRONG TO NONE!”

scout NNN posts

5/14/07 5:39 pm NONE!” Thus came the model, teaching, and loving example of Yau-man. In all the seasons of Survivor, Yau-man has rightfully earned the title of OVER-ALL ULTIMATE SURVIVOR! Earl is a very nice man. However, he will soon be forgotten. Yau-man, however, will go down in Survivor history as the most amazing human being ever to play this game. In a time of war and division in our world, we were blessed to share the experience of Yau-man. For this I praise the casting crew of Survivor! Yau-man is such a class act! On the other hand, this finale reeked with the gut wrenching disappointment of expecting to see a “happy ending” and get surprised with the most extreme opposite. Fans have already written me things like this: “I'm still feeling disappointed & disgusted with the outcome of Survivor! If there's a grain of Dreamz in me, I pray for my healing! PATHETIC! I almost hate having watched all season to see him renege on his promise to sweet, sweet Yau-man. I'm even feeling disappointed in the universe for allowing such a thing to happen. GOOD is supposed to win. Oh well ... life will go on.” Another fan wrote this to me:“When Dreamz not only didn't give Yau the immunity idol but then voted him out I immediately turned off the Survivor show and will not watch it again. What a shame. It is hard to adjust to the fact that this is the way people act in real life and it hurts me deeply. It seems we are not raising our children right or maybe it is greed all around.” Earl won by a complete “shut out” because there was NO COMPETITION. Dreamz is such a liar that he lies to himself and believes it. He could have kept his word and walked with “Final Four” and a life time of INTEGRITY to pass on to his children. Instead, he is now one of the most hated villains of all time. Yau-man was kind in saying that Dreamz couldn’t connect the dots and lacked focus. That big honkin’ truck and a few bucks in his pocket will soon fade, but Dreamz’ lousey reputation will chase him forever. So much for the “I’m honorable, a truth-teller, a man of my word. I am Dreamz!” There is truly a very fine line between hero and villain. This was a choice point that Dreamz will live to regret. Karma, Karma, Karma! What a pitiful flood light he shed on humanity and the worst kind of press for his race. What a SORE EYE for the game of Survivor. Dreamz is wrong in assuming that “Survivor is a game based on lies, cheating, stealing, and deceit”. Most of the 300 plus castmates who have played the game of Survivor have brought forth love, loyalty and integrity. Sorry, Dreamz. That line of logic won’t help when you grow up and smell the roses. Cassandra was just a body in the right place at the right time. She has earned the title of the “Ultimate Coaster”. Her express purpose in the game was to be in the final three cuz’ absolutely no one would vote for her. She, too, seemed like a nice person, but certainly not one of “those GO TO PLAYERS”. Lisi’s outrage with Cassandra was pathetic, but nothing can ever equal the insensitivity of singing “Eenie, Meenie, Miny, Mo, Catch a….. (liar) by the toe…” to a panel of Blacks. What was she thinking! She wasn’t! She is truly a person that only a Mother could love! Lisi is truly CRAZY! She doesn’t really deserve any more air time. Alex has perpetuated the true reputation of lawyers. What a complete and total jerk! He needed someone to cold cock him! Loser, loser! Shameful. Back to our hero’s. Earl was the only “Have Not” to make it to the end of the game. He is also the first Black man to win. Perhaps there is something to the saying, “The First shall be last and the Last shall be first”. Yau-man, thank you for resurrecting the value of honesty, child-like love, hard work, sharing, and fun. Thank you for valuing the team’s good over private gain. Thank you for guarding the well-being of your community. You are one of the most popular people to ever play this game. Thanks to all my fellow castmates. I’ve enjoyed blogging this season with you. May all the winds embrace you with love, laughter, and fun.

amy NNN posts

5/14/07 4:02 pm Earl deserved to win. He was the puppet master. A lot of luck was involved with this season. Once I saw the final 3, Earl had it in the bag. No matter what Dreamz’ decision was on the Yauman situation, Earl still had it in the bag. Poor Cassandra- no shot. There is always that one person that makes it to the end, with no respect, just there for the ride. Just one time, I’d like to see that person make a case for themselves. Alex had a hair across his butt. I had to laugh. As a police officer, Alex just reminded me of a defense attorney that tries to rip you apart on the stand. Excuse me counselor, could you repeat the question? At that point, Dreamz and Cassandra should have seen the writing on the wall, and not taking his crap or Lisi’s crap. : ) I don’t think Dreamz ever had shot. This is probably why, even if you take a Yauman out, you need to take out his other half. No one ever talked about taking Earl out? Why? He must have been well liked. I liked the season with the immunity idols and great challenges, but I thought this season had a lot to do with luck, with the different mix ups. A little luck is ok but not too much. Stick to Outwit, Outplay, Outlast. Physical torture is good too. It has been a pleasure blogging with you all. Keep it real. Ciao!

brian NNN posts

5/14/07 11:52 am Wow, CBS wasn’t kidding about the whole “Most Controversial Decision EVER!” thing! I mean, picking Steph’s night alone over Mike’s falling into the fire as the Toughest Survivor Moment? Are you people insane? The man BURNED THE FLESH OFF HIS BODY. She basically spent a night in exile, pre-Exile Island. Look, I love me some Steph (and just saw her last night at the Fiji wrap party), but come on. That was ridiculous. (Also, where the hell was the 11-mile hike?? Outrage! Outrage!) I have so much to say about this last episode, but I really need to re-watch that Final Tribal Council before I can put my thoughts together. (Alex and Lisi came off as such enormous, enormous jerks that I need to see it again to believe it.) I’ll watch it again tonight and get back to you all tomorrow with some details and insider scoop from the Fiji wrap party. (All 19 contestants showed up, and until you’ve seen Jessica, Erica, and Liliana cleaned up, you haven’t seen beautiful.) Quick thoughts: 1) Yau Man is incredible. I am just blown away that he was able to understand Dreamz’ dilemma and not get all indignant and morally righteous about it. What a cool, cool guy. 2) I really don’t blame Dreamz at all. As Yau Man indicated, when you make a deal with someone in Survivor, you can hope they stick to their word, but you really have no one to blame but yourself if you get lied to. No matter how loud you yell, you’re still really just mad that you lost, not that someone else’s integrity is “tainted.” I mean, what do you care if Dreamz keeps his word in real life or not? All you care is that you lost your shot at big money, which is hardly as morally noble as you might think. Yau Man saw that, and so Yau Man is awesome. And, for what it’s worth, I do believe Dreamz is an honest man in real life, and that’s all that matters anyway. 3) Congrats to Earl on the 9-0-0 victory! 4) Happy 200th episode, Survivor. I’ll write more tomorrow!